Master-pulsator mechanism for milking machines



C. H. HAPGOOD.

MASTER PULSATOR MECHANISM FOR MILKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31.1921.

LQQQALQ} Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

(E/rus cal/53M apyood Wfim A TTAP/Vf y C. H. HAPGOOD.

MASTER PULSATOR MECHANISM FOR MILKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3|, T921.

1 AQQAQ 1L Patented Aug. 1, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TNESS: I @ras 0 war0 qayo0d Jr Ev I I A I Zi /MW ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATEN 5* CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD, 0F NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YDRK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MASTER-PULSATOR MECHANISM FOR MILKING MACHINES.

ll ,424A01.

Application filed March 31, 1921.

To all who? it may concern Be it known that l. (runs HowAun HAP- coon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutlcy, county of Essex. and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Master-Pulsator Mechanism for Milking Machines. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

It is known in the art to provide a master pulsator adapted to connect a pulsation pipe line alternately with a source of partial vacuum and wit-h a source of pressure. The pulsation pipe line is connected with a secondary pulsator whereby the latter is operated to connect the teat cups (usually the outer pulsation chambers of double chambered teat cups) alternately with atmosphere and with the source of vacuum.

The object of my invention is to provide a master pulsator valve of the rotary type so constructed as to adapt it to the requirements of a milking machine system and at the same time overcome the objections inherent in many valves of the rotary type.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagram of a milking machine system in which my invention may be incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional "iew of the head of a vacuum pump with valve seated thereon.

Fig. 3 is an inner face view of the valve Fig. 4 is a face View of the valve seat with valve and cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the vacuum pump.

The system comprises any source of vacuum, as, for example, a vacuum pump 01, shown in diagram in Fig. 1. From the vacuum chamber of the pump extends a vacuum pipe line c. From the master pulsator .a, which, as hereinafter described, comprises also the head of the vacuum pump, extends a pulsation pipe line b.

The vacuum pipe line 0 is connectible, by means of a detachable branch vacuum pipe e, with a milk pail f, from which extends a milk pipe 9 to the milk chamber h of a claw. The pulsation pi e line b is connectible, by means of a detac able branch pulsation pipe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

Serial in. 457,325.

i, with a secondary valve (not shown) in the valve chamber is of the claw. The teat cups m have their outer and inner chambers connected respectively with the valve chamber l and the milk chamber h of the claw.

The master pulsator valve 0 is applied to any suitable valve seat member. In Fig. 2 it is shown as applied to the head it of the vacuum pump and virtually forms part thereof. Any suitable vacuum pump may be employed. For example, the head n may constitute part of a vacuum pump the main body of which is constructed as shown and described in detail in the Leitch application, Serial No. 361,609, filed February 25, 1920. In the present construction, the head of the Leitch pump has been modified to adapt it to the master pulsator valve 0. The valve 0 is shown as mounted on a pivot pin p se cured in the head n.

The periphery of the valve is provided with gear teeth 7' engaged by a driving pinion 25 secured to the end of the pump shaft u. A cover '0 encloses valve 0 and pinion t. The cover is open to atmosphere. As shown, a valved pipe w is connected with the enclosed space and this valve may, if desired, be connected with any suitable source of pressure other than the atmosphere.

In the valve seat member or pump head, 11, are two passages. One passage as is connected to the pulsation pipe line b. The other passage y extends through the pump head and communicates with the vacuum chamber 9 of the pump, which vacuum chamber is connected with the vacuum pipe line a as shown in Fig. 5. The passages 00 and 3 open on the valve seat at different distances from the axis of rotation of the valve 0.

The valve is provided, on its working face, with an arcuate (preferably circular) groove 10 adapted to register (preferably continuously) with the vacuum passagev y; and with an arcuate groove 11 and an arcuate groove 12, both out on the same radius and adapted, in the rotation of the valve, to register alternately with the pulsation passage :12. One or more radial passages 13- connect the passageslO and 11. One ormore ports 14 connect the passage 12 with the exterior of the valve and hence with the atmosphere.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the passages 11 and 12 are in communication with vacuum and atmosways a. lower pressure.

phere respectively, so that, in the rotation of the valve, the pulsation passage :1: and the pulsation pipe line b are connected alternately with vacuum and atmosphere, air being thus alternately exhausted from, and admitted to, the pulsation pipe line and pneumatic pulsations thus transmitted to the secondary pulsator in the chamber 70 of the claw. A

It will be seen that the exterior of the valve is constantly exposed to atmospheric pressure, whereas the pressure operative against the working face of the valve 1s al- Thus, while the passage 12 is constantly exposed to pressure, the passages 10 and 11 are constantly exposed to vacuum. Hence there is no pressure tending at any time to lift the valve from its seat, but a constant pressure tending to hold the valve against its seat; so that special mechanical provisions to hold the valve to its seat are not really necessary. I

' have, however, applied to the cover 1) a projection a which limits the extent to which the valve may recede from its seat when the system is not operating.

It will be understood that where, in the claims, I refer to a source of vacuum and a source of pressure, I usethese terms in a relative sense andnot in an absolute sense. While I prefer to utilize a partial vacuum and ordinary atmospheric pressure, my invention contemplates the use of any differcntial absolute pressures, as, for example, vacuums of diflerent degrees, pressure above that of the atmosphere and atmospheric pressure, and pressure above atmospheric and partial vacuum.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is .1. In a milking machine, the combination with a milking machine unit comprising teat cups and a secondary pneumatic pulsator adapted to transmit pulsations to the teat cups, a pulsation air pipe line, a primarly pneumatic pulsator adapted to transmit pu sations through said air pipe line and thereby control the operation of the secondary pulsator, a source of vacuum, a valve seat provided with a port connected with the pulsation pipe line and opening on the valve seat, a rotary valve turnable on the valve seat and provided with a plurality of ports adapted, in the rotation of the valve, to registei' successively with the first named ports, and means affording communication between said valve passages and the source of vacuum and a source of pressure respectively, two at least of said ports being each of substantial length so as to maintainthe pulsation pipe line in communication with both pressure and vacuum for substantial time intervals.

'in the valve seat, one of the last named arcuate passages being connected with the first named arcuate passage, and the third arcuate passage being connected with a source of pressure, whereby in the rotation of the valve the pulsation pipe line will be connected alternately with pressure and vacuum,

3. In a milking machine, the combination with a source of vacuum and a pulsation pipe line, of a valve seat member provided with passages connected respectviely with the pulsation pipe line and with the source of vacuum, a rotary valve turnable on the valve seat, the valve having a plurality of passages adapted, in the rotation of the valve, to register successively with the pulsation port, there being a third passage in the valve affording communication between one of the first named two passages in'the valve and the vacuum port in the valve seat member, the valve having a port connecting the other of the first named two passages in the valve with a source of pressure acting 100 against the exterior of the valve, whereby the absolute pressure on the exterior of the 'uous'ly exceeds the absolute pressure to which the working face of the valve is exposed.

4. A master pulsator for a milking system having a pulsation pipe line and a suction pipe line, comprising a pumpconnected to-the suction pipe line, a valve, driving means connecting the pump and valve for continuously rotating the valve, a flat valve seat for the valve,a port through the seat communicating with the pulsation pipe line,

a second port through the valve seat communicating with the pump, arcuate passages of substantial length in the inner face of the valve arranged to successively register with the first port, one of said passages being open to atmosphere when in register with said port, the other passage being in register with the second port when in register with the first port.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at New York, on this 28th day of March, 1921.

CYRUS HOWARD HAPGOOD; 

